Did Actor Johnny Depp’s Trump Assassination Joke Go Too Far?

“I definitely believe in freedom of religion and freedom of speech. But I think there’s a line that he crossed. “ That was the sentiment one Atlantan had Friday afternoon in the city’s downtown area. This was the reaction of a young lady in relation to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor, Johnny Depp’s public’s remarks regarding U.S. president Donald Trump.

On Thursday July 22 at the Glastonbury Festival in the United Kingdom, Depp made a joke aimed at Trump that some have deemed controversial. “Where was the last time an actor assassinated a president?” Depp stated. “I want to clarify I’m not an actor; I lie for a living. It’s been a while. Maybe it’s time.”

The young Atlantan interviewed by VOX Media Cafe reporters continued, “He should be able to get his opinion out there without being hostile or rude. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like Trump or what he stands for, but he has been threatened and that’s absolutely wrong.”

‘’But maybe [Depp] isn’t the only one who thinks that,’’ said Diana Esposito an Italian tourist, who was seated by the fountain at Peachtree Center Friday afternoon.

A multitude of other celebrities have also had comments regarding the president. Recently, comedian Kathy Griffin was under scrutiny for posting a picture of a mock decapitated President Trump.

“The thing is whether you voted for him or not, it’s poor taste to threaten anyone, whatever policies they have,” Said Air Force veteran Byron Demby, who was walking down Peachtree Street.

Secret Service staff assistant Shawn Holtzclaw told CNN that the agency assigned to protect the president was aware of the actor’s comments. According to a statement issued by the Secret Service, “ For security reasons, we cannot discuss specifically nor in general terms the means and methods of how we perform our protective responsibilities.”

The actor seemed to be aware that his comment would a cause a commotion. “This is going to be in the press,” he told the crowd. “And it will be horrible.”